Bicycle



(No Model.) 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- J. H. HORAH.

-BICYCLE. No. 451,972. Patented Ma 12,1891.

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JAMES HUGH HORAl-I, OF SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,972, dated May 12,1891.

Application filed September 6,1890. Serial No. 364,127. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES HUGH HORAH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salisbury, in the county of Rowan and State of NorthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference markedlzhereon, which form a part of this specifica- My invention relates to anew and improved brace, leg, or lateral support for bicycles, and isdesigned to retain the machine, without or with a rider, in an erectposition when at rest.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts of a support or brace, of which the following is adescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Although this invention can be applied to other styles of bicycles, itis shown here in connection with that class known as the Safety, whichconsists of two wheels-of nearly or quite equal size joined by a spineor backbone.

Figure 1 is a three-quarter view of a Safety machine, showing the bracewhen not in use. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, showing the bracewhen in position and in use.

The brace or support consists of a rod 1) I), joined to the front forkof the machine by a folding lever d and to the handle-bar of the machineby a lever h. The rod 1) b has a small wheel a at its lower end. Thefolding lever d is hinged to the fork of the machine by an adjustableclamp e and to the rod b b by an adjustable clamp or block 0, which canbe placed at any necessary part of the rod 1) b. The folding lever dextends past'the rod 1) b, and at the outer end 0 is fastened a springf, which spring is joined to the rod 17 12 below the clamp c by the eye19. At its upper end the rod b b is joined by a hinge g to the lever 72This lever h is hinged to the handle-bar of the machine by theadjustable clamp i, and

its motion in a perpendicular plane is controlled by said hinge g and bythe segment 75, which has two holes Z and Z, and which is adjustablyclamped to the handle-bar of the machine at a point between the clamp 'iand the outer end of the handle-bar. The position of the lever h isregulated by the springlatch 11, attached to said lever h, and by thepin on, placed at the inner end and forming part of said spring-latch nin such a position that it engages the holes Z and Z.

When the brace is in use, as in Fig. 2, the pin m is held by thespring-latch n in the hole Z. When the brace is not in use, as in Fig.1, the'pin m is similarly held in the hole Z.

The object of the spring f is to overcome the dead-center created by thealignment of the folding lever d and the rod 1) b when the brace is notin use. XVithout this spring the downward pressure exerted at the pointg by the lever It would fail to lower the brace from its inactive to itsactive position on account of the dead-center created by the aforesaidalignment. The spring f, being in tension when the brace is not in use,pulls the point 0 of the folding lever d toward the eye 20 on thebrace-rod, and when the lever 72. is moved upward overcomes thisdead-center and assists in bringing the brace into its active position.

A hooked arm or catch 8 is pivoted upon a spring-washer to the frontside of the rod 1) I) just above the small wheel a. WVhen not in use,this arm lies parallel to and against the rod 1) b, as shown in Fig. 1.to use the catch, it is revolved upon its pivot downward and in anoutward direction from the front wheel of the bicycle until it engagesand locks the small wheel a and prevents it.

This catch locks the small When necessary means of a rod operating in atube and held in position by a set-screw q. The brace can be madeequally well of a solid rod of proper length for the particular style ofmachine, and I do not confine myself to the tube and adjustable rod.

For the purpose of adding strength and stability to the brace a guide 1'is clamped to the handle-bar support of the machine and the rod 1) b ispassed through said guide. This guide can be dispensed with, whendesired, and is intended to relieve any unusual or extraordinary strainupon the other parts of the brace, and more particularly upon thesegment 76.

IV hen the rider desires to use the brace or support, he presses thespring-latch n, thus W thdrawing the pin m from the hole I, and raisesthe lever 71. to the position shown in Fig. 2. This, together with theaction of the folding lever cl and the springf, brings the rod 1) bdownward and outward laterally from the machine until the wheel totouches the ground. The spring-latch is then released and the pin m goesinto the hole l. The brace is then held firmly 1n position, and therider can stop the machine and remain seated thereon, or can leave itstanding in an erect position without other support than that affordedby the brace. When the brace is no longer needed, the lever h can belowered and the brace restored to its inactive position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bicycle, the combination, with the fork and handle-bar thereof,of a brace or lateral support for said bicycle connected by a lever withthe handle-bar of said bicycle and with the fork thereof by means ofclamps and a folding lever, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bicycle, the combination, with the handle-bar thereof, of abrace or lateral support connected with said handle-bar by clamps andbya lever regulated by a spring-latch and a segment, substantially asset forth.

3. In a bicycle having a brace or lateral support, the combination, witha folding lever connecting said brace and said bicycle and extended pastsaid brace, of a spring connecting the extended end of said foldinglever with said brace or lateral support, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a bicycle having a brace or lateral support, the combination,with a Wheel on the lower end of said brace or lateral support, of acatch pivoted on said brace and adapted to lock said wheel,substantially as set forth.

5. In a bicycle, the combination, with a brace or lateral supporttherefor, of a guide for said brace or lateral support clamped upon thehandle-bar support of said bicycle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES HUGH HORAH.

Witnesses:

W. H. BREWER, W. B. HARDY.

